Recognizing the need for effective leak detection systems for slurry pipelines, Ausenco was the first to take on the challenge. In the late 1990's, Ausenco applied its decades of experience in the global slurry pipeline and control systems industries to introduce the first leak detection system designed specifically for slurry and tailings pipelines.

Today, Ausenco's Pipeline Advisor 7.1 software solution has advanced to further addresses the needs of modern pipeline operators with customizable features designed to enhance pipeline safety, optimize operations, and improve energy and cost efficiency. While our critical, dual-approach leak detection technology continues to help protect assets, the environment and surrounding communities from the potential effects of a pipeline leak, modern IT concepts and advanced features further enhance safety and add value to traditional pipeline SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems with operations and management tools.

Pipeline Advisor provides operators with a clear overview of even the most complex slurry and tailings pipelines, enhancing operations safety and facilitating efficient, timely decisions. By providing round-the-clock expert operations advice and intuitive, comprehensive graphical displays, pipeline operators have an improved understanding of complex system requirements. Features like slack flow monitoring and batch arrival alarms further translate high-volume data from pipeline SCADA systems into actionable information.

Beyond the control room, Pipeline Advisor also assists operations management with planning and reporting tools like production history logging and incident logging. As Pipeline Advisor is designed to be compatible with a wide range of applications, data is saved in file formats compatible with common database software for easy transfer into reports and presentations, or upwards into overall mine and enterprise management software. Ausenco's use of non-proprietary, standards-based building blocks allows the software a unique level of interaction with outside systems not commonly seen in the past.

This article collection contains several articles on how advancements in vision system designs, computing power, algorithms, optics, and communications are making machine vision more cost effective than ever before.